Stop The Stress Of Police Work

THE STRESS OF POLICE WORK It's morning. The alarm clock drills its piercing racket into your brain. “No” screams your mind, “Not yet!” You didn’t sleep too well last night, there’s so much negative stuff on your mind. It’s hard to get going, even with strong coffee and there's no time for breakfast. You barely get to work on time and as soon as you arrive, the problems start. WHO, ME? STRESSED? Maybe yes, you. Three quarters of police officers say they are anxious and impatient and irritable on the job and at home. Some have disturbing memories or dreams, panic attacks or flashbacks. In some places one in three has a drinking problem. But asking for help is something that cops hate. No-one likes to admit to their colleagues or superiors that they are in need, that they are feeling over stressed. Police work is stressful in many ways: • Killing someone in the line of duty

• Having your partner killed in the line of duty

• Lack of support by the department

• Shiftwork and disruption of family time/family rituals

And there are many less 'dramatic' stresses that can take a toll on an officer on active duty. • The daily grind of dealing with the stupidity of the public, or the "asshole factor.” Is it just problems and idiots out there? You have to be on guard all the time. You can get cynical, trusting no-one, making it harder to deal with neighbors, spouses and even children • The justice system feels weighted against you and for the criminal. • The isolation of the police role, putting on the 'mask'. This can lead you to dehumanize others and can really affect outside relationships • A military type, structured institution. Individuals are unimportant, the 'machine' is. • Camaraderie is a two edged sword, leading to an 'us and them' view of the world. • The 'Burst' You face a different kind of stress from most people. Everything is calm then suddenly WHAM all hell breaks loose. This is “burst stress.” • Constant emotional control, extreme restraint under highly emotional circumstances. Always act calm, be in charge. Be stoic, play the role.which takes tremendous mental energy, possibly leading to fatigue and burnout • Your children are affected by your job. • Although it is a 'job', for many it's much more than that, it's your whole identity,. After critical incidents it's accepted that you to talk to another officer or counsellor, but for the build up of the usual daily stresses the rule is: "Just deal with it."But you're not a weak person if you feel stressed. This idea is dangerous nonsense that leads to all kinds of problems in policing. Most officers at times have felt upset, stressed and sometimes depressed. SO, Put the right person in charge of stress YOU! You can never be without stress - it’s part of being alive. The main thing is not to get rid of stress, but to make yourself equal to the things you face in life. You can harness the energy of anxiety - use it to actually make yourself healthier, and to enjoy life far more. You achieve balance at the level of stress that feels good to you - your OPTIMUM level - for maximum happiness. There are many books and programs about handling stress, but this is different. It uses a picture of stress as a contest, or perhaps a 'battle', It makes the concepts simpler, more practical and uses the 12 KEY idea to make them easier to remember. And since we must Change what we are doing, there is a whole chapter on how to do it. It’s designed so that you can read all the way through or just dip in at parts that interest you. And the listed resouces encourage you to learn more in the areas you need most. You start by: * UNDERSTANDING stress symptoms * TAKING CHARGE of your stress levels * WORRYING Effectively. Identifying your sources of stress * USING effective PROBLEM-SOLVING and DECISION-MAKING skills Then you'll learn: * To RELAX - Deeply and Quickly * Powerful MENTAL IMAGERY techniques to help you make the changes you want * FOUR HABITS for better Health & Energy * ELEVEN Powerful ATTITUDES * THREE SKILLS for stress relief and increased enjoyment of life You'll know how to: * Identify painful EMOTIONS and HABITS that create inner stress * Find SUPPORT * Take BREAKS that really help *Take charge of personal HAPPINESS * Make permanent healthy CHANGES There are no magic answers to all life’s problems, but this book gives you 12 powerful tools to get you started on moving from a VICTIM to a WINNER! "......The language is basic and straight forward.... excellent use of humour" Cathy MacLean, B.Sc. M.D. C.C.F.P. "The ideas are practical, the writing clear and to the point....." Peter Chalvardjian, M.D. "...exactly what I've been looking for: informative, easy to read, concise, great illustrations & quotes, humour throughout..." Joan Niles, R.N.